#LifeasaJStudent Blog

SOJC students showcase what it's like to be a student with personal stories about their experiential learning adventures in their own words, photos, and videos.

12 weeks in South Africa: The biggest learning experience of my life
Story and photos by Margaret ConnorsThe experiences I’ve gained in a cross-cultural workplace and living abroad have contributed immensely to my personal growth and development, but it seems impossible to sum up the greatest part of my journeys. When I am asked what the most memorable part of my experience living abroad was, it either sparks a 10-minute conversation consisting of me pouring my heart out about my love for South Africa, or the short and sweet version: “There’s so much to tell, I don’t know where to begin.” 
Life after graduation: The ups and downs of a post-college reporter
Story by Amanda LinaresPhotos courtesy of Amanda Linares
Finding the real Cape Town as a filmmaking intern in South Africa
Story and photos by Angelina HessIn 2016 post-apartheid Cape Town, college students protest for access to decolonized university while women fight for their right to sexual education and contraceptives. Township-born Capetonians drive Ubers, bringing white residents to their beachfront multi-story flats by day, only to go to a one-room shanty they share with three other families by night. Congested highways dissect the stunning landscape into visible segregation, while nepotism pervades the South African Parliament. 
Uncovering a different side of Muslim culture as a journalist in Morocco
SOJC student Shirley Chan jumps for joy at the Essaouira Ramparts, where a few episodes of season three of “Game of Thrones” were filmed. Story and photos by Shirley Chan“What was it like being in a Muslim country?”
The learning experiences and challenges of being a journalist in Sri Lanka
The SOJC Sri Lanka crew goes on safari in Minneriya National Park. From left to right: Andie Tenoso, Key Higdon, Jake Sandor, Delaney Engle (shooting the camera) and Judd Smith.Editor's note: This is the first in a series of two blog posts written by students who traveled to Sri Lanka in December 2016 with the UO SOJC. Stay tuned for the second post in the series, by Angelina Hess, later this month. Story and photos by Meerah Powell
Kathryn Thier and Nicole Dahmen present on solutions journalism at AAN conference
Editor's note: This post is the second in a series of two student blog posts about the 2017 Association of Alternative Newsmedia Digital Conference held in January in Portland, Oregon. For more information, read the first post in the series, "Damian Radcliffe talks trust in media at AAN conference" by Kenny Jacoby.
Damian Radcliffe talks trust in media at AAN conference
Editor's note: This post is the first in a series of two student blog posts about the 2017 Association of Alternative Newsmedia Digital Conference held in January in Portland, Oregon. For more information, read the second post in the series, "Kathryn Thier and Nicole Dahmen present on solutions journalism at AAN conference" by Caitlin Howard.Story by Kenny Jacoby
How to score an internship at GoDucks
Story by Gabby UrendaWhen I tell people that I hold my office hours inside of the Casanova Center at Autzen Stadium and at the Matthew Knight Arena, the first thing they ask me is, “Can I come?”  
Kenton Lead Blog
Featured Student Work: “The Kenton Lead Blob*” documentary
Multimedia Journalism Master’s students get to the bottom of a Forest Service map that shows Portland as a toxic-air hotspot.